Psychometric Properties of the Aversion to Risk-Taking Scale in a Sample of Colombian Motorcyclists

Every year hundreds of motorcyclists die in traffic accidents. One of the causes is the low perception of risk when driving, which influences the appearance of risky behaviors. The objective of this study was to adapt and validate the Aversion to Risk-Taking Scale (ARTS) in a sample of Colombian motorcyclists, to evaluate the perceived risk of different behaviors considered dangerous on the road. A total of 436 motorcyclists from Narino (Colombia), aged between 18 and 71 years (M = 28.27; SD = 8.68), participated. The scale was updated with two new items (consumption of psychoactive substances and helmet use). A linguistic adjustment was performed; internal consistency and evidence of content validity, construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), and validity compared with the Driving Self-Efficacy Scale were assessed. The ARTS presented optimal psychometric properties for a unifactorial structure. Optimal internal consistency values are recognized (alpha = 0.94; omega = 0.95). An inverse correlation with the Driving Self-Efficacy Scale was evidenced, corroborating the construct. The results suggest that the ARTS, adapted and updated for Colombia, is a scale with proven psychometric quality; therefore, it is valid and reliable to assess risk perception in Colombian motorcyclists.